Greg's diary--May 1970

This diary was entered from the paper originals between 4 February 2017 and 14 February 2017.

Friday, 1 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		next day
		last day

The thought of the proposed 2-hour Mike Patrick lecture this morning was quite sufficient to put me off going to the Uni this morning, especially as I had contrived to get to bed quite late last night, and did not as a result get up until 1115. Had breakfast and into town, picking up Mike Hadden in New North Road, and to the bank, where I had a far larger overdraft than I had thought; they were rather nasty about the way in which they handed back the check with a “Thank You” - that and the excuse that Barclay's are building a dam in Rhodesia (not that it really otherwise worries me) may well cause me to change my bankers in the near future.

Back to the Uni, bumping into the Grays, and then to the finance office to discuss the possibility of a £10 loan from the Guild - turns out the deputy student treasurer is a bloke I know from Crossmead and the multitest room, and he told me to come back in an hour; back to talk with Mike and a few attracted friends, and then off for chemistry, breaking off to have a visit to the treasurer's office; OK, but can't be cleared until Monday. Saw Alistair on the way, who is having rear suspension troubles; odd for a beam axle. Drove the car and suggested the wheel was buckled, and then back to chemistry to continue boiling my CCl₄.

Off to Crossmead after that, and discussed with Martin the contents of Exchange and Mart, and then consequently to ring up a bloke in London with a DS 19 for about £115 max, and it seemed reasonable, particularly in view of 5 new X's which must be alone worth almost as much as the car. Arranged to go up to have a look at it tomorrow, then home - Paul arrived about 2130 - I had just about forgotten about him - and we spent a while talking about all sorts of things, and so late to bed. Driving his car - interesting, but the silencer is buggered.

Saturday, 2 May 1970	Bow → London → Bow
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up early enough this morning to go to orchestra practice, dragging Paul along in tow; Paul set off to the library to see what he could find something to do. Made a bit of a mess of the low parts on the Cor Anglais, as I had feared. Mr. Obussier suggested I come to see him on Wednesday at 1400, and then off to the Applied Science building to show Paul the computer, and got it to wish him a happy birthday, and finally off in the direction of Crossmead, and tried to persuade Martin to pay for Paul to come to London, but of course he would not. Tried to get Wolf or Chris to look after him, but they were busy. Down to the Huntsman for a drink, then up for lunch, being questioned by Dave Whitmarsh about the matter of 10¢ coins in the Crossmead phones,

These were Malaysian coins, exactly the size of British 6d coins, but worth only 40% of the value. I have no idea where they came from, honest, guv.

and in lunch everybody else grabbed the lot; seems that people are getting fed up with my appearance. Then had coffee in Wolf's room, though Wolf did not turn up, and down to buy some flushing oil and GTX [motor oil], and then on the train to London, picking up a book about Oscar Wilde en route. Arrived in London in 2 hrs 20 mins, which would be difficult to beat in anything short of a SM.

Missing here is what we were doing in there in the first place. We went to look at a Citroën DS 19, Martin bought the car, and I drove it home. I'm not sure that Martin had a driving license at the time.

Martin suggested that, as a measure of celebration about the purchase of the new vehicle, that we go and have a meal at the Ship, so along, but had problems with the time, as apparently they close at the ridiculously early hour of 2230 [normal closing time for pubs at the time]; across to the Empire Grill, where we got a meal, albeit rather grotty, and the wine, for the price we paid, was positively abominable. Took Martin home, and showed the car to Graham on the way, and then back myself to Bow - 15 mins 42,6 s, a record by a long way

Assuming this was from Streatham Drive (23.5 km away), that's an average speed of 89.8 km/h, really quite respectable, particularly considering I had to go through Crediton. Google Maps states 25 minutes in 2017. Presumably the difference between Ami 6 and DS played a role.

- and I wasn't even trying! Spoke to Paul at length about various aspects of the car, and finally round 0230 to bed.

Sunday, 3 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up comparatively late at about 1030, woken by Paul - or did he just come in as I woke up? In any case, down, where the old buggar [sic] next door was having his own thoughts about the presence of the car there, and so I moved it elsewhere. greatly amusing the people across the way by its self-levelling antics. Had a bit of trouble getting the back to behave, which proved to be because the linkage had come out of its guide, so put that back, then in to have breakfast.

Later out to warm up the engine, and change the oil; in the process to Andy Perryman's place and looked round, but he was not there; stopped en route and tried to change the oil, but some idiot had managed to tighten it [sump drain nut] so tight that I could not undo it. Then back home, jacked the car up on concrete blocks and got the sump nut off with a socket, then drained it into another sump, and subsequently flushed it. Then inside for a sort of lunch, which kept us occupied most of the afternoon between attempts to lubricate the thing, and finally decided to take it over to Crossmead to show it to Martin, but when we got there, there was nobody about, so told Ross about it and back along some little country roads to Bow. Messed around for a while before deciding to go out for a drink, and to the Oxenham arms, where we had a pint before going on to Tavistock to see the Normans, and had quite a long chat with Mrs. Norman, who got on surprisingly well with Paul - though I suppose they are both country folk, and West Country at that. Dinah hung around more than is her wont. I wonder if she was, perish the thought, impressed with Paul. Back home, and once again late to bed.

Monday, 4 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Decided that I could afford, for Paul's sake, to miss a bit in the way of lectures and hang around with him instead, so once again was woken by him at about 1030, and later had breakfast at a typical leisurely pace, then decided I had better at least put in an appearance for practicals, and had a bit of difficulty persuading Paul to follow me in his own car so that I could leave the DS with Martin, but eventually more or less forced him to. To the Uni, where I found I had some abominable thing to do, which, from my memory, everybody else was having trouble with. Accordingly decided to leave it to Don this week, and do it myself next week. Outside with Paul and got the cars, and was just setting off for Crossmead to see Martin when I saw him walking up towards the Uni, so up with him and got the cover note for the car, and then to DH to arrange a parking sticker, and subsequently looking for Paul's car - one of the Porters had moved it, much to Paul's consternation and our amusement. Back then to Crossmead and hung about for a while before taking a cross-country route back home, and got some petrol and oil, subsequently back home, where we had a bite to eat and I off before Paul back into town with some workshop manuals, and first to see Mike Hadden, who suggested he come out and have a look at the cottage, so off, meeting Graham near the Exe Bridge, and gave him his manuals, then up to see Martin, who was causing his Déesse to perform its party tricks, and so off again to the cottage, which thoroughly enchanted Mike. He kept running all over the place with great modification programs in mind, and so eventually off to see Mr. Steer, who was not in, and so started cooking something to eat, and then off to let Mike drive my car, though he had difficulty with the steering and kept veering towards the verge; when we stopped, we were followed by the copper from Bow, who wanted to know if we were all right. Back, had makan, trying in vain to get the fire to do more than smoulder. Took Mike home, and when, at 0130, I got back, the fire was blazing merrily away, so sat there diary writing for a long time.

Tuesday, 5 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Overslept as a result of last night, which doubtless delighted Ron Shearn - I wonder whether he would get at me and haul me over the coals, but the, other people miss lectures and get away Scot free. It doesn't pay to be anybody's blue-eyed boy. Got up finally in time for lunch, and thought it would be a good idea to see what I could do about getting to the problems class on time, so made it just about on time, and then realised I hadn't the foggiest what everything was all about, and so did one question in a few minutes, and decided to do something about the thing at home, and left. Off to DH, where I found a letter from a bloke called Clive (or Chris?) Calcutt, and he wanted to move into Comp Cottage, and so left him a note to meet me tomorrow at 1600, and off to look for some process principles notes. Couldn't find anybody in Birks, and was about to go and look for Sue Haile when I realised that about the best thing I could do in this weather, which would certainly keep Sue out of her room in any case, was to finally spring-clean the car, and so through to Crediton and bought some stuff to clean the car with, then back and removed everything from the car and set to with some 1001 (looks like a binary code for something) and cleaned that up as best I could, and left it drying on the gate while I set to the seats with Ajax - I wish I knew how a car could get so incredibly dirty in so short a space of time. Left that drying and inside for the ever-present chore of preparing something to eat, and then spent the evening in as idle a way as usual, though in all fairness I did try to learn some vectors from Stephenson, and in the process came to the conclusion that I had better borrow somebody's notes and swot up hard before the exams.

Wednesday, 6 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

One of John Boyles biggest miscalculations (miscomputations?) was to have a logic class at 0900, as is the case for 4 weeks from today. Has in the best of faith intended to make it, but could not, and so did not do much constructive about getting up until 1030, and then hung around doing little until it occurred to me that I ought to get into town and do some shopping, and on the way passed Mike Hadden - he always seems to be walking down New North Road. Bought some garlic and cigarettes, and then back to Mike's place for a while until I had to get up to the Uni to see Phillipe Obussier at Clayden. Arrived there considerably early, and hung around playing a book of lesser known (and rightly so) English folk songs. Philippe finally arrived and did a bit of reed wiring, and asked me how far I lived from North Tawton, there be a young lady with the unusual name of Sue Fortescue (rhymes),

At some point I had understood Fortesque, two syllables.

who have great difficulty in finding her way from North Tawton to the Uni to play her horn. Thought about all that, and then along to Birks looking, without success, for people, and eventually, little accomplished, back to Crossmead to exhort Martin to come out then to DH to meet this Calcutt bloke, whose name proves to be Chris, and then to Birks to pick up Joss, who was waiting in his car with a bloke called Mike whom I had not previously remembered, but who remembered me messing around with a can of GTX in Marion's room last term. Out terribly slowly - don't know why he was so timid - and when we got there, Paul Thompson was not there, so back to the house and showed it to Chris, who wants therefore to move in on Friday - could do, I suppose. Then all went back, and I rang up this Sue bird, who sounded typically musician-like. She felt a bit guilty about Philippe asking everybody to pick her up, but I assured her, I didn't mind, and so round at 1900, though I annoyed myself by arriving 3 minutes late, and then off - she is quite nice, about 5'10" [1.78 m] tall, and very friendly - to the Ram, and had a drink, then orchestra practice, where Maggie seems to be showing interest. Home, took Sue home, and hung around for a while.

Thursday, 7 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Transport phenomena again at 0900, pretty deathly, especially today, where Mike was going over high-flown relations between the laws of viscosity, heat transfer and mass transfer, all of which was rather amusing. Mike Patrick: “We have got to the stage where we can now almost write a computer program to solve this equation”. Mike Hadden: “But what the hell is the use of it all?” ~~Patrick~~Hadden: “Yes, you just keep going in ever-decreasing circles....” Patrick “... until you disappear up your ... yes”. Laughter.

It's not clear who said what; the diary entry shows the correction above, and either way it doesn't quite make sense.

Back with Mike (Hadden), who had been drawing up rules for invocation of the laws of viscosity (to be found written on stone tablets at the top of Birks Hill). Did little more in the morning - into town with Mike, and then talking to him, and decided that I would go home and cook up some makan, and after that decided that I could spend my time more profitably not going to Engineering drawing, and so spent a while trying to tidy up, and put things back in my car. Back to town to see Mike and get some vector notes from Andy (to be faithfully handed back tomorrow morning), and Mike decided to come out to the cottage, and so disappeared into Haldon and finally came out with Marianne (Chuch (?) or Чуч?) Martin,

I never did find out how the name is spelt, but almost certainly nothing like that.

and out - Chuch was also enthralled with the place - this is getting quite amusing. Then arrived Chris, and unloaded his stuff, and later we went out for a drink, and to the Burston Inn, where we burst in to a dinner party for somebody's 21st, and the contrast was unbelievable. Later out to see Mr. Steer, and had quite a bit of a chat with him. Back then, as we felt like it, and continued in the pub until closing time, and then back home and took some mad photos - Chuch and I setting in the lights of the car playing oboe and cor anglais. Don't know what the neighbours must think, but I suppose they shall have to get used to it. Back very late, I entertaining thoughts about Chuch, and bumped into an Eng Sci bloke called Tony in his 2CV outside Newton St Cyres - out of petrol. Got him some, then on to Birks, where Chuch made us some chocolate, and talked for a while, though I left early, because I suspected that Mike would get on better with what he intended without me.

Friday, 8 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Had not intended to go into Trans. Phen this morning, and most certainly did not, woke up round the 1200 mark as Chris arrived, and heard from the next-door neighbours that the electricity man had been this morning, and apparently one gets a refund - the amount taken is only the amount registered on the meter, and one can get up to 25% back, which could represent quite a sizeable amount. Then thought about going into the Uni, but Chris has done this experiment quite well, so I shall use his results. Spent about an hour talking to him, coming to decisions about things, and then off to get something to drink, during which we found 1) The Burston was closed 2) Chris had a brake fluid leak. To Bow Garage to buy some brake fluid, then home - Mr. Thompson tells me that there is an article about the M35 in Autocar this week.

Later, I off into town to buy some food, and also an Autocar; then up to Birks and saw Andy, who suggested that I come to the disco tonight, I however concluding that I would need a woman, so thought about ringing Sue Fortescue, but found that North Tawton is a trunk call, so left it until I got home, which was with Mike and Joanne, who also (predictably) was enchanted. Then rang up Sue, who said that the disco was a ‘super’ idea, without sounding too convinced.

In fact, it seems that she was, indeed, convinced, and that's the way I now remember it. She was a little ashamed of having appeared overly eager.

Then Joss arrived, and down to the garage to have them look at his car, which Mr. Thompson put on the working end of a sledgehammer and aptly righted. Off then, after change of pants, to pick up Sue, picking up Mike and Joanne on the way back, and into town, Sue keeping remarkably quiet.

Disco was useless, as I had feared, but after a while off for a walk with Sue, followed by a drive, parked in the extension of Barley Lane, and examined (when doing nothing else) the lights of Exeter. Then back to the Disco, got Sue's bag, though not my Gauloises - damn! - and off home, where one thing followed another followed another followed another ?01.00 @03.20 *

FOCAL printout indicating program termination by the BREAK key. 03.20 is the (faked) line number, and * is the prompt.

and somehow Sue did not get home until about 0300, with plan to meet her tomorrow for the rehearsal. Back home and meditated - I am very fond of her.

Saturday, 9 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up round 0800, and then off almost immediately to pick Sue up, and had some coffee when we got back, and then off to the orchestra, where I was, perhaps understandably, rather out of condition, and did not really fulfil my ability. Sue had Dvořák to do after that, and then off to have a chat with Pete,

This appears to be the first time I had referred to our PDP-12 by this name.

who printed out a birthday wish thing for Sue, and then into town to buy some condoms,

At this juncture, by complete coincidence, I bumped into Barbara, whom I had met on 24 October 1969 and then not seen again for months. I'm left with the impression that she would have liked to have spent more time with me, but of course it was (just) too late.

and back to pick her up and went home, where no sign of Chris, so hung around for a while and had something to eat, and then went to bed, which lasted quite some time, and then up and thought about doing something more constructive (though Sue opined that bed is constructive), and so out for a drive, the weather being reasonable, and somewhere not far from North Tawton decided to go and have a cream tea in Cheriton Cross, which we did - spent the whole time talking music, to the evident puzzlement of another couple there. Then out onto Dartmoor, and ended up going for a walk near the Warren House Inn, which does not in retrospect seem to have been a good idea, as we were both rather sore. Hung down in an idyllic sheep-dung covered valley, somewhat marred by Sam Harris' scrapyard. Then up to the Warren House Inn, where, at 1930, Sue rang her parents, who had rather expected her back for lunch.

Amazing that we hadn't thought of informing them earlier. Apart from lunch arrangements, they must have been concerned about her wellbeing.

Back home, and then got down to work almost immediately after a pause for some food, and carried on then for a while, though, as Sue was sore, did not do it for too long, and took her home only a little after midnight.

Sunday, 10 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up round the midday, and had a sort of half-hearted bite to eat before going off to pick up beloved Sue, and back home for a while, where we messed around singing and playing instruments until we thought we should set off for the hill climb. Weather was awful, the ideal day, it would seem, to go for a hill climb/motorcross, but when we got there we discovered that it was, in fact, a motorbike scramble. Decided to find somewhere near the exit to park, but aiming therefor got ourselves hopelessly bogged down in a quagmire at the end which made me wish I had my knobblies [snow tyres] with me; as it was, we went to look for somebody to tow us out, rang the AA and told them that we were professional musicians and needed a tow out urgently for tonight's concert. They said something about having to wait an hour, so we down in the meantime to look for a gentleman who, we were told, was in possession of a tractor down at the piggeries in Newton St. Cyres, but could not find him. Got back, and there was a gang of people pushing cars out of mud; they looked rather dubiously at me, but eventually got us out, and so arrived at the practice only 10 minutes late, covered in mud - especially I - and having paid 8/- for the privilege. I love Sue for the little things, like the cheerful way she takes it. Practice was a bit of a shambles, and then off home, by this time more or less dry, and had a bite to eat, and sat listening to the last movement of the 9th, singing along, until 1910, when we realised the time, madly had a bath, got dressed, and headed off to arrive at 1950 - don't know how we made it. Sat up the top with Dave Großcurth and bird through the Dvořák, then sat with Sue in the Ram through the Saint-Saëns, followed by the Strawinski [Symphony of Psalms]. Didn't do at all badly, in direct contrast to the other times - piano dubbed my solo [on cor anglais] in the 3rd movement, and made a mess of it, while I got it right, which greatly pleased me. Then to see Mike, who was with Joanne and some other very quite bloke in her room. Stayed there a while, then off back home for the usual - didn't get her back home until 0300 odd, and it was more than a little foggy - why, at this time of the year?

Monday, 11 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up correspondingly late, and found some mail, though it turned out to be for Chris, sat around a while trying to catch up on life, and had some breakfast, then along to pick up Sue, and on the way back tried the backroads, but did contrive to get lost. Hung about in the cottage for a while looking for things, and then off into town and to the Applied Science building, bumping into Graham on the way; he has had little contact with Martin of late either. In the chem. eng. labs, found the experiment I had intended to do, and had a little bit of a think about the way in which it worked, and pumped water all over the place while Sue sat there looking bored, so turned it all off again, and out to find Tony on the PDP-12, who said he would give it to us at 1500, and in the meantime asked me what I thought of the Citroën Dyane, which, apparently, he is thinking of buying. Into town to do some shopping, and back to mess around with Volflo, then left Mike to it for a while, and back to watch Volflo work, which it did, apart from the graphs-drawing, where it did funny things. Had to give it up then, and took Tony out for a while in my car, and then to Dunns' - I think he is more terrified of the thing than anything, and he will obviously take a bit of getting used to the thing.

Or maybe I turned him off altogether.

Then up to the Maths building computer, and, for Sue's benefit, opened up a file called Blabber; quite amusing, and Sue decided to keep the printout. Then back to the PDP-12, and eventually disposed of the gentleman there and started, from scratch, on a new version of Valentine, storing on tape the section where which worked out the ordinal suffix as Ordin, which could conceivably come in handy. Got the thing, after a few amusing error diagnostics, which, I suspect, Sue is also going to treasure. Then back home and did little out of the ordinary - this affair with Sue is progressing with breakneck speed, and at this rate I'll be married to her by the end of term.

Tuesday, 12 May 1970	Bow → Lydford → Bow
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

And on, ever on, in the monotony of love, or whatever one may like to call it - not that I am complaining, but it does not make for interesting reading in any other way. Did not get up in time for process principles, which is doubtless going to please Ron Shearn but little; finally up round 1045 and down to talk to Chris about something or other, then thought and consequently ate, and in due course made the inevitable journey to North Tawton, where Sue had been spending the morning sticking computer tape and printouts all over the place, and had not done at all a bad job of it. Hung about there but little, and then over home, Sue voicing worries to the effect that her sister Alison, returning today from London, might try to steal me from her; I don't know what makes her (Sue) think that she (Alison) is liable to have any success.

At home, did little - do we ever do much which I can safely record? No, that's not fair - we do. For instance, we started messing around with flûtes, Sue voicing her opinion (if not the instrument in question) that she would like to be able to play the thing. Then to bed, but Sue was sore, and so decided to do something baroque, and go to Tavistock so I could show Sue off to Mrs. Norman. But the time we passed the Dartmoor Inn, decided it was too late (2200) to go disturbing the Normans, and so entered said establishment and had a drink, which effectively broke us, and then to Whiddon Down to see Andy Perryman, who was in bed, apparently being eaten of woodworm (not quite the same thing as being eaten of worms), and we sounded him about Joanne, and then off back home, taking Sue late home.

“Eaten of worms” is the King James Bible translation of Acts 12:23, describing the manner of death of Herod the Great. I have no idea what I meant by “eaten of woodworm”.

Wednesday, 13 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

By some superhuman effort managed to get up round 0800 today to make it in in time for a John Boyle computation lecture; from my point of view this was probably not worth the trouble, as he spent most of his time talking about the 8-mode aspect of PAL-D language [i.e. the PDP-8 instruction set], which I know better than he; he obviously had no idea what use a JMS [jump to subroutine] command was, and we spent quite a while discussing his errors after the lecture. He said he would give me a magnetic tape so that I could go ahead and write machine language programs, which opens interesting possibilities, though the way I feel at the moment all I want to do is find new ways of telling Sue I love her.

To DH and didn't have coffee, because nobody would buy me any, and so into town and got some food and money, then to see Mike, who wanted to come out with me, and so sorted that out, then to Comp Cottage, where I promptly started cooking something quick while Mike washed the car. Had polished the front wings when a real humdinger of a storm came down and precluded any further open-air polishing, and in any case soon had to go off to pick Sue up. Found everybody at home - father, who doesn't work Wednesday afternoons,

This would have been the early closing in Okehampton, though it's interesting that professionals (Dick Fortescue was a dentist) also observed it.

and Alison, who is nothing like what I expected her to be - a little too snotty for my liking. Whatever made Sue think I would fancy her?

Home eventually and messed around at length, finally had a bite to eat and off to see the computer, but Dave Snell and that wierd Turuk [?] fellow (who may not be as repugnant as Alistair would think) were using it. Spent long enough on VOLFLO to verify it was still up the spout, and so off to the Ship to celebrate a whole week since we had met with a schooner each of rather excellent sherry, which did odd things to Sue, though at least she did not fall off her chair in the subsequent orchestra practice, as she had contrived to do on Saturday. Home, and immediately upstairs to do the usual just before a rather drunken trio of Mick, Chris and Ali arrived downstairs; when we woke up, it was silent, and so took Sue home, hanging about in their living room for a while.

Thursday, 14 May 1970	Bow → Buckland M. → Bow
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Mike in to wake me this morning, which rather baffled me until I discovered that he and Chris had changed rooms for the night. Downstairs, while he told me of the scene of debauchery that had been last night, while I found a letter from Corinne telling me of a friend of hers who is up the spout, and what could I do about it? Immediately thought of Alison, who tends to specialise in such affairs, and so over to the phone box to ring Sue up, and told her as much as I knew, arranging to meet her this afternoon after all. Then back home and messed around for a while, reading also a letter from Dad, and then Mike began to suggest that we went back to the Uni, as he wanted a bath; had a bite to eat, then back and to town to buy some new spark plugs, which I inserted while Mike was showering. Then had myself a shower, while Mike went over to Halden, and was standing naked, showering, when Andy came in looking suitably baffled, and asked for a lift over to the Uni. Thought about this, lit up my last Gauloise (I am giving up smoking), and took him over, pausing only to get dressed. Saw Mr. Hall on the way, who waved to me; confusing: can hardly say that I had been sick.

I no longer have any recollection who Mr. Hall was, nor what obligation I owed to him.

Shall have to say I had an abortion to arrange, or something equally unlikely. With Mike straight to North Tawton, where we picked up Sue, talking about abortions, and home again; hung about for a while, then set off for Tavistock, where I introduced Sue to Mrs. Norman, and in due course off again to Buckland, stopping to ring Corinne on the way. Finally got on to her, and found that she knew little more than I about this girl; gave up for the night and in to play 1st Oboe in the V-W Sea Symphony, of which I made a cock up.

I have a recollection that I was sight reading, and badly.

Out again, being approached by a rather vehement gentleman voicing the opinion that we be bloody idiots for parking outside his home; he did not take too kindly to my wish that he recover therefrom. To the pub in Yelverton, had a drink and (I) a cigar,

My intention of giving up smoking was almost certainly only related to cigarettes.

and back home to find Mike pissed out of his mind, having fallen through the wall and scrawled all over the wallpaper.

This must have been in the lounge room. There was a little ledge in the cob which had been wallpapered over.

Chris was in bed Ali, [sic] and we soon followed suit.

Friday, 15 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Took Sue home eventually, and after a while at her place, went back home and inscribed on Mike's head “Greg was here”, at which he did not so much as flinch.

He woke me, however, at about 0820, and started telling me of various events, having apparently completely (or well-nigh) recovered from his fun from last night. Examined what he had written on the walls last night, and decided that we could improve on it with the aid of a felt tip, and so a bit of fun. Also a letter from Dad with the disappointing news that I would not be going back to Malaysia this summer, as he could not afford it - I nearly jumped for joy; I am sure that Sue and I can have a wow of a time together somewhere in Europe.

Mike wanted to go to the Uni for a practical, and so cooked up something quick and off to the Uni to see if there were any practicals I could do, and had a look at a couple of likely ones, but other people had beaten me to them, so off over to see what the computer was doing, but it had been abducted, and Tony was messing around with it in the labs with some interesting programs. Back to examine the notice board, and saw that there was a public lecture about the Anglo-Saxon Annals of Exeter and Crediton, and rang up Sue, but she was otherwise occupied (like coaching David Cawthra's daughter for Grade V theory; don't know why he can't do it himself),

David Cawthra was conductor of the university orchestra, and probably head of the music department. He lived near Okehampton.

so could not come. Bought some stuff, home, and after a while across to N. Tawton, where I met the Cawthras with exception of David, and was given a couple of beers by Sue's father, then, not without feeble maternal protest, home to Bow.

After that, decided to do something, and so into town, and to DH, bumping once again into Dave Großcurth - I see him everywhere, always with a different bird - and to see “Some like it hot” in the Northcott theatre, which was not at all bad. home, and Sue extremely late home.

Saturday, 16 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up none too early today, with nothing particular in mind; Chris was not up when I left to pick Sue up, but gradually came round when we got back; he had apparently thought that we had been to an orchestra practice, though, as I pointed out, since the concert was last week, there had seemed little point in this. Made some coffee and hung around for a while, then decided to cook some lunch (why can't I face facts and learn to cook a few things that don't take such a long time?) and so into the kitchen, where Sue washed up while I cooked.

This may have been the occasion where she was washing up, naked to the waist (talk about exploited!), and Chris walked in, liked what he saw, and said that he would clearly settle in well. The incident happened, but it doesn't quite match the rest of what I reported.

In the middle of this idyllic family scene arrived Martin Hoyle and Chris Jones with the interesting news that they had fitted a tow bar to the rust at the back of the car [his Citroën DS], and prepared to tow the ID back from Plymouth. Martin has also been having trouble with his gear selector; apparently he broke some shaft or another, but Colin of Dunns welded it for him free, which does not seem bad. Then they left, eventually we had makan and headed into town, where we did a bit of shopping down at Maypole, and then bought some condoms and onions, and to the Odeon to see “Marooned”, about a mob in a space capsule whose retrofire rockets didn't. Not too bad a film, though typical of Hollywood, the story was not too representative of reality - Sue did her best to make me promise never to go up in space; she might just as well ask me not to drive a car. Home via Mike, and found Martin and Chris with the interesting information that the ID came loose in Tavistock; doesn't surprise me - it was madness to tow the thing with decompressed hydraulics anyway. To bed fairly early, but for some reason Sue wanted to leave early as well.

Sunday, 17 May 1970	Bow → Bude → Bow
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up much as usual today, and almost immediately over to see Sue. There had been no phone call from Corinne (as we had arranged), and so we decided to ring up (Sue's parents had gone to London). Seems that Corinne knows little more about this girl than we do, and we came to the conclusion that if she wanted any help, she could at least do her share to make it easier for us, and left it at that.

Off home, where we had a bite to eat, and decided that, as the weather was so glorious, we could do worse than to to the seaside for a while and do a bit of sunbathing, if not bathing in the sea (which would be icy). Accordingly set off in a roar of exhaust noise (my intermediate pipe fell off on Friday) to Bude, driving flat out all the way. Before Hatherleigh decided to play Frogs, and so removed my number plates, thereby reincarnating 9339 TTA75,

When I picked up the car in France, it had tax plates (TT) sprayed on to the number plate mounts. I had subsequently used stick-on plates until the final versions had arrived, and the thing looked quite a mess with adhesive from the stick-on plates still very visible.

and roared on, to presumed shouts of “Crazy Frenchmen”, etc., to Bude, which we made in 40 minutes. Parked the car and lay down on the beach; I changed into my bathers without a towel, while Sue stripped to her panties and lay on her stomach. Stayed there for about an hour, and then got dressed and home on a round about way, where we had a western style makan (though no Englishman would recognise it) and polished off a bottle of vin ordinaire, then to bed, where it worked more or less the first time, but after waking up I had the dreaded droop. Much frustration occasioned thereby, but Sue did her best to make it clear to me that it did not matter to her; had a bath and then hung about for a while playing recorders, and got her none too late home, but making plans about tomorrow.

Monday, 18 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up again late - I really must ensure that next term/year I attend a larger proportion of lectures than has of late been the case. Had a bite to eat, and then off into town to see what I could do in the way of practicals, which was not much, but Tony let me use the computer to do what I had prepared to do tomorrow, and so messed around and got it to work, apart from a bit of disorder in the graphs; did a further modification to that in DIAL, and then got TA17 out for Mike and down to the station to meet Sue, who was not there; was told that the train had arrived 20 minutes previously, so up to see if she was walking to the Uni, which she was not, so frantically down again to find her just arriving; the ticket collector had got his times wrong, and consequently scared the hell out of me.

Sue was on her way to Cardiff and had to change trains at Exeter St. Davids, coincidentally very close to the University. Unknown to her parents, she had told the people she was visiting that she would arrive the following day, giving her the chance to spend the night with me.

Finally up, where Mike was having trouble feeding the tape into FOCAL - why, I know not - and so did it for him. Then discovered that he had taken his readings another way, and so the program was not suitable. Told him I would rewrite the thing in time for tomorrow, and then the 3 of us to Dunns, where my exhaust pipe had finally arrived, then to Exmouth, which was pretty depressing, so home, dropping Mike in Exeter, and messed around trying to change the exhaust pipe, which eventually managed, only to find that the silencer was 3" [8 cm] too short; down to the Garage to cut a sleeve to fit, stick it in with the aid of some gun gum, and all was well; inside and cooked some makan, and while that was going played recorders. Had makan, then to bed.

Tuesday, 19 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

What a joy this morning at 0700, to wake entwined with Sue. It is nothing like with Nina Scrimshaw; when sleeping with her I hardly slept the whole night, but with Sue it was at once peaceful, relaxing and idyllic (which is another plane [?] I think I shall have to substitute for the now-passant delightful) (Which reminds me - must buy a Thesaurus). After about an hour and a half got up and had a bath to remove the violent quantities of sweat exuded, had breakfast and woke Chris, and then back to bed again, and eventually up round about noon to have a bit more curry and exchange sweet nothings about the fact that Sue was going to Cardiff, and then finally into town, where we picked up Mike and headed to the Uni - when we got there, discovered that he had been hanging Sue's bra out the window, thus explaining the funny looks we had been getting from all and sundry. Got the program ready for Mike, then took Sue to St. Davids, prolonged goodbye, and back to find Mike having more trouble. Eventually sorted that out, and after a bit more messing around and slow typing, found FOCAL storage filled, so, feeling in a somewhat crazy mood, did a FORTRAN program for it, which, to my surprise and idyll (no, I don't think so, ) delight compiled perfectly. Put in the OP SYS, and found that the big disadvantage of 4K FORTRAN is the fact that if you type an incorrect character, you have had it, and have to go back and start again. Eventually left it, and off to Birks to have makan, then home and did a bit of work, and subsequently with Chris to the Burston for a drink, and home, collecting a traffic cone to match the one I got for Sue, and not too late to bed.

Wednesday, 20 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up somehow early this morning for a 2 hour John Boyle lecture, and contrived to wake Chris - he had a letter from Alison, which surprised him as much, I suspect, as it did me; she is preparing to come down here in the not-too-distant future.

With John Boyle, had more PAL III, which was a little better, though not without further errors on John Boyle's part. Carried on to tell us of a computer course after the exams, which looks as if it could well be rather elementary. Out and had a look, but Tony was flat out, and so to town and bought a new diary

The current diary (volume 8) had only 14 pages left.

after a visit to Crossmead, when I collected an invite for this party from Dave, and off to see Mike Hadden, who had had his bed whipped - didn't find him at first, and so had coffee with Andy. Scuffle followed with a bloke whose bed Mike had pinched, and eventually they got away with his keys. Down to go home, but found a flat tyre, and so changed that, and then took Joannie and a lass known as “Little L” to the Exam Hall for an exam, and finally back home, where I had felt exhausted enough to completely flake out, but instead had some coffee, wrote a letter to Sue and finally did the impossible and caught up on my sadly neglected diary, which has behind now for 3 months at a stretch - only hope I can keep it up to date now that I have got it here. Finished off my letter to Sue, then to town again to get a computer program sorted; popped in to see an absent Mike, got his results and over to see what I could do with NICKERS. If only this paper tape system were not so slow, or there were a way to load FORTRAN tapes by magnetic tape; compiling and running take a ridiculously long time, and when I finally compiled it, it told me that the END statement was floating point subscripted, which I decided to ignore. Ran it, and had a bit more trouble, and left it, to write a program to tell Sue that I miss her. Then orchestra practice, which it was a bit hilarious. After that up to Crossmead, where I saw Wolf, not very flattered that I called my prick Wolfgang. Drove his car, then talking to Chris and Dave, who tell me Martin is thinking in terms of a flat. Good.

Thursday, 21 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up later this morning, missing Sue - how am I ever going to go back on what I started 2 weeks ago? Certainly if I ever do, it will be painful; or shall I marry her. Time alone knows; 'tis all a chequer board of nights and days.

Finally out of bed, staggered downstairs, found, to my intense disappointment, no mail, so back to bed and had a cup of coffee, and eventually reconciled myself to the idea of work. Down again, where Chris was bitching about the lack of food in this place. Thank God there is little more of him to put up with.

Why? On last mention, only two days previously, there was no hint of friction.

Will be much happier when it is Mike out here.

Finally, after bit more bitching, went into town and bought another plank to become a shelf in my study; this is a great necessity, as I have far too little shelf space. Then did a marathon food-buying spree, due now for some time, and spent over £3 at 3 different shops, which rather shattered me when I thought about it. Then off home, though I realised later that I had intended to visit Mike, and stopped in Crediton to buy a phone socket, but they did not have the right size.

This would have been a phone connector, not anything to do with a telephone.

At home set to and put the third shelf in place, not without mishap, and then gradually tidied up my study; this has been coming for a long time, but now with exams on top of me it is downright essential. Then to Bow Garage and changed my tyre - yet another tread brace fracture. I am getting altogether fed up with this - I wonder if ZX's are any better in this respect. Home, and finally set down to doing some work, did a couple of hours, and then the absence of Sue really hit me - why hasn't she written? - and I could do no more. Eventually pulled myself together and wrote to Mum, and still later had some makan and a bath, while Chris attempted, not without some success, to cook something edible.

Friday, 22 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Chris woke me this morning from troubled dreams of Sue, with two letters from her, one of them addressed to Greg Lehey (and Wolfgang), and the other to Sir G. F. Lehey KCB, this last somewhat puzzling me. Anyway, she does miss me considerably, and so I don't feel too bad about it all - though I still miss her like hell. Lay in bed reading the letters, and dreaming of Sue, and eventually up to have breakfast and set down to work. Chris quickly disappeared, and I tried to make some sense of vector calculus, without all too much success. Finally, feeling frustrated and missing Sue a hell of a lot, set off into town (Crediton) to pick up a phone plug and socket I had ordered yesterday and posted a PDP-12 printout telling Sue that I missed her 200 times over.

Here and elsewhere the zeroes in 200 were crossed, while elsewhere 0s were not. Clearly that made it more computer-like. No idea why 200.

Got the plug, and some fish and chips, and back, giving a lift to a couple of birds to Copplestone, then back home and removed the “tuning indicator” from the radio, until I can get a meter that indicates, and put the second phone jack on for the downstairs loudspeakers, and the afternoon I spent trying further to understand vector calculus - once again das große Handbuch der Mathematik is coming in handy, and seems to be able to present it in about a quarter of the space that Dixon does in his close-packed, hard to read notes.

Finally got thoroughly fed up with that, and decided to go and finally run NICKERS, which we did, though for some reason, though for some reason the compiler will not accept the last FORMAT statement; I can't see anything wrong with it, either on or off DIAL.

DIAL was good at inserting TAB characters and not warning about the fact.

Then got a few long loops to type out - first, that Mike was going mad (200 times) , and that I loved Sue (500 times, sufficient for her wall from floor to ceiling). Then tried, with great success, to blow FOCAL's mind so that, in response to a Write All command, it typed:

CGCZCEGGCECACIS?B(T!" I THINK I'M GOING MAD!

which just goes to show that computers are just human.

From recollection, I had been depositing random values into low memory via the switch register. The “I THINK I'M GOING MAD!” was part of the FOCAL program in memory at the time.

Laughed a long time at that, and then, after a prolonged game of WAR12 (which Pete won), off home, where Chris had a Cathy who had cooked a Risotto passable, apart from banana content, ate same and then to bed. Cathy kipped down on the sofa - odd.

Saturday, 23 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Chris in with another Cardyn Post [Welsh: Postcard] from Sue, which did nothing to start the day off on the wrong foot, but when I woke up again, Martin Hoyle was there, and that did. He had been brought out by Nick who helped me at the beginning of the Michealmas term, to get my stuff when the Ami blew up. Offered him some coffee, but he wanted to get back and do some work. Martin wanted to go to Tavistock to get some parts off his ID, which was lying in, of all places, Carr's garage,

I had had a lot to deal with Carr's the previous summer.

and so off eventually on condition that he paid for the petrol. Whitsun weekend this weekend,

In fact, Whitsunday had been the previous weekend. Presumably this was the Whitsunday Bank Holiday, now apparently called “Late May Bank Holiday”, which at least makes more sense, since it was only seldom on Whit Monday. The date would be correct according to the rules of 50 years later (last Monday in May).

and the traffic was terrible, and took us a hell of a long time to get to Tavistock. Finally made it and saw Mr. Carr, who was obviously not too happy about the whole thing at all, and left Martin to it, and up to the Normans, where I met Mr. Norman [really? I don't recall him at all. Or was it bad writing for Mrs. ?], and was promptly asked for a ¾" AF spanner; then Martin rang and asked for tools, so down there and removed a few parts myself before getting bored and going back up again. This is all strangely reminiscent of last year. Spoke for a while with all, then thought in terms of getting some food for the long weekend, which would involve going to Exeter to arrive before the shops shut, and so down and helped Martin on his way and loaded all sorts of things into the back of the car - he even managed to get the front hydraulic spheres. Then across the moor, also densely populated, to Exeter, and worked [?] up and down to Maypole/Lipton's, where I bought an enormous quantity of food, though they were sold out of some things, which I had to get elsewhere.

Finally home, and cooked up some Frankfurters for my immediate needs, and started a curry for later, then upstairs and flaked out; woke around 2100 and had makan, and read for a while, then tidied up and to be; Chris was apparently away all day.

Sunday, 24 May 1970	Bow → Taunton → Bow
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up by the alarm round 0800, dreaming of Sue, and so up and dressed, without even having much in the way of breakfast, and over to North Tawton to see what was going on. Her father let me in and ushered me to the music room, as Jane [Sue's eldest sister] and Roger were asleep in the lounge, and in due course Sue came down - what joy to see her again! Words failed us, and we just sat there in each other's arms for a while before I suggested that we move, and so to my place to make up in no uncertain terms for lost time, and got up again a few hours later - to quote the Beatles, “It's getting better all the time”. Got dressed, cleared the stuff out of the back of my car, and then off to Taunton via Crediton and Tiverton. Arrived there just on lunch time, and nothing was happening, and so showed Sue round the place; finally a few people started appearing, and had a look in the Carpenter Study, where, of all people, Watson was House Captain, and Clough also a school prefect - difficult, of course, to judge, since they were so young in those days;

It had been over 3½ years since I left school.

but Clough, with whom we spoke for a while, seems to be a sensible enough young lad, and has apparently got himself an FRCO, which should put Bernie Newman to shame.

An FRCO is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, indeed an honour for one so young. Bernie Newman went to school with me and was the first ARCO (Associate of the RCO) in the school, at the time a great honour.

Off then and up to Watchet and St. Audries, where there was nothing much to see, so back through Nether Stowey to Taunton, looked further around, and heard Clough, Watson and some other bloke practicing in the chapel, Clough getting fed up with this bloke, called Mike, who wanted to put some crazy interpretation onto the “Quia fecit mihi magna” from the Bach Magnificat (Clough's copy had the name “Troutbeck” written on it, in Pete Chivers' handwriting).

Peter Chivers was a friend who had left school a year before me, nearly 5 years previously.

- Sue, Clough and I all agreed with Bach, and eventually Clough refused to cooperate. Listened to him playing some Duprée for a while, then out and bumped into Dave Whitmarsh, also somewhat confused,

Like me, at the time he was at the University of Exeter.

and so off for a drive for a while, but stopped near where we used to go smoking, and Sue displayed inordinate interest in Wolf, so got dressed and went home, where we had a bite to eat, then got down to work, waking a few hours later when a curry was well cooked, and had that, back then to bed until I had to take Sue home.

Monday, 25 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

And another day; things are beginning to drag somewhat, and the thought of exams does little to make things go any more smoothly. Up today at the extraordinarily late hour of 1230, though I suppose, especially now, I should do something about getting sufficient sleep. What a pity, in a way, that I met Sue now; I would much rather have met her either a lot earlier or directly after the exams. In any case, had breakfast today, and then Chris disappeared into town and I went upstairs to see what I could do about notes, and copied notes out at great length, until finally I found myself understanding all these ∇φ's

In the original, there was a ~ under the ∇. I can't find a corresponding UTF-8 character, and there's nothing on the Vector calculus page to match. I wished then that I understood this stuff. I still do.

and things that have long baffled me, and this so elated me that I decided it would be pointless to cause myself to forget about it all again by overworking, and so over to see Sue, and was just in time to see Roger and Jane (who is really enormous) before they left for somewhere near Williton in a Triumph Courier with very bald X's [Michelin tyres]. Then back home, where we washed the car, and after that went out for a walk and were followed, rather amusingly, by a young lady and dog from next door - Sue suspects that she has a crush on me, which is rather amusing. Back, and down to the other end of town, where we contemplated stealing a steamroller, and then home to eat some ice cream. Sue is apparently dead worried about the chance that she might be pregnant, though her period is not due until tomorrow, consequently did not have it today, but lay in bed a while today whispering sweet nothings. Then arrived, just as we had finished makan, Wolf and Elaine, the latter apparently worrying Sue by virtue of her sophistication or something, but after a while things got a bit freer, and we had quite an enjoyable evening. Adjusted Wolf's lights for him.

Tuesday, 26 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up early this morning with a view to going into Exeter with Sue and getting various things, including the Pill, sorted out, so round early to pick her up, and then into town, first going to see Andy Holman to borrow from him some differential equation notes, then in to see Mike, who was complaining of still being high on some pot sold by Chris, which he had smoked on Saturday night. Went into town, and to our respective banks, and mine refused to cash my cheque and would not produce me somebody in authority to tell me why not, so I raised hell and eventually got the money, and, very frustrated, out to walk around in circles for a while, to the amusement of Mike and the worry of Sue; poor Sue: with me she is going to have a hard life. Eventually to DH, where I continued swearing, but had some coffee and sandwiches and bought a copy of Stern. Then off for a drive round the countryside, and ended up in Duryard parked on the side of a hill looking down over the Exe valley; after about 20 minutes the owner came along and asked me if we always went in fields without asking permission, to which, on reflection, I was able to answer yes. Home and had some lunch, after an obviously bra-less Sue had evoked goggling eyes from a butcher [at Safeway in Crediton]; then spent a seemingly wasted afternoon, though not without the usual diversions, and also washed the car. Sue was a bit worried about her period, which was due today, and so was I, but, in contrast to Pauline, it actually came on time, while Sue tidied up downstairs, and later out for a drink with Sue and Chris before taking Sue home extremely early - in to say hello to the parents before off home again, but I was too tired to do any work.

Wednesday, 27 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up rather later this morning, and had a vague breakfast, and then set down to finish off Andy's vector notes, and by 1230 I was about half way through them, and then I ran out of electricity; my wallet, I suspect, is in the Carpenter Study in Taunton, and Sue is looking after my money. Accordingly to find Sue, and came back with her and through about some lunch, but then gave up and instead went upstairs, and after a bit of messing round Sue came to the conclusion that she could not do without it, even during her period, and so disposed of impediments and were just about to engage when Andy Holman arrived with Penny Middleton; I had no idea who it was until I looked out of the window, and the shock had me trembling violently.

This was the first of at least three times that Andy caught us in flagranti.

Finally came too and brewed up some coffee, and in due course also got dressed, as we had been hanging about dressed only in sarongs and things. Talked for a while, and eventually decided to cook up something to eat, somewhat thwarted by a lack of onions, but managed to quite well with spring onions instead. Andy seemed to like it, though apparently Penny does not like rice; more fool she. Then set off into Exeter; Sue and I had wanted to be in the Ship by 1900, but only made it with certainty to the Mitre in Crediton, and so invited Andy and Penny in as well; then on into town, and picked up an odd gallon of petrol and on to see “The Battle of Britain”, which was quite good, though all these war films leave me feeling more than slightly sorry for the Germans, who really had the odds with them. Then home and, as there was little we could do (Sue did not have another tampon handy) took her home fairly early, though once again I did not get much work done.

Thursday, 28 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up again none too early, and decided to once and for all finish off these vector notes, which were taking far longer than they had any right to do, and so spent an hour and a half catching up on that. Also mail from the whole family, Bev still screaming about her trunk, about which I must do something, and Mum and Dad having apparently been frantically busy. After no too long a period of time decided that I might as well get Sue to come over here and do some work, and we could (possibly) get more work done than if we just messed around. Whether this is true or not, I don't know, but in any case I got Andy's notes finished, though not before 1500, and then got various things ready, and first of all into town to see what I could do about getting a DJ [Dinner jacket] (authorised today by Mum), but the chances of having one made in time are negligible; had a look at a couple of off-the-peg ones, which were not too bad, but more than a little expensive.

At the time we had our clothes tailor-made, not the English way at all, but in Malaysia it was much cheaper.

Sue went off into raptures about my appearance in a DJ, and so I shall obviously have to get one. To see about Bev's trunk, and got some passport application forms, then to the bank, where, after the other day's rumpus, the girl disappeared to check my account as soon as she saw me, which makes a bit of a change. Bought the AA eastern Europe handbook, full of likely looking information, and then to DH to see about shipping; Harwich to Hamburg £4:10 for us and £7 for the car, which is not too bad.

This is the first mention of what became our holiday in Turkey. I don't mention anywhere how the plans evolved.

I would rather like to land at St. Pauli - even if it is hardly more economical (though it would be if we could save on the passenger fares). Then to take Andy's notes, and saw him, Pete Hillier, Marion and Marianne, all resigned to the thought of maths, and then back home again, where Sue finally decided to forget about her period; resulting late journey home, for which she had to wake me.

Friday, 29 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

God, this is getting frightening, the exams are so close! Up today only just before noon, which I don't suppose made much difference either way, and decided (or rather, circumstances had already decided for me) to do some work and at least try to cover all my syllabus, not that I ever seem to make it. Sat down, but I was in one of my classic impenetrable moods, and nothing would go in. Hopped about at random through my notes (Float 0's and 1's through memory?)

This was, I think, one of the test programs that came with the PDP-12.

and after about an hour and a half decided I was not going to learn any more, and that the best thing I could do under the circumstances would be to go to Plymouth with Sue and dispose of Bev's trunk. Got the back seat out of the car, put Bev's trunk in, and then got my camera, and then remember that Sue was teaching David Cawthra's daughter something today, and so would not be available; the disappointment was so great that I nearly cried. Took the trunk out again, and over to see her, and she was as delighted to see me as I her. She made me go to Topsham, however, to take Philippe's Cor reeds back, and she may have had a point at that; however, we were more than slightly late back home, and I left her worrying what her mother's reaction to her late arrival would be.

Back home myself, had little to do - I don't seem to see much of Sue on Fridays, one way and another. Spoke to Chris for a while, which was only just tolerable; he arrived at nearly midnight with Alison, and I spent the rest of the time taking the Mickey out of him.

Saturday, 30 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day
		next day
		last day

Up finally at 0730, though all my thoughts and fears about missing the exam by oversleeping were alleviated much earlier, when I woke up with the dawn and every half hour thereafter until I got up. Had breakfast, and still contrived to be in DH by 0820, and found, to my immense delight, a letter from Sue wishing me luck in the exams. Hung about for a while before the others arrived, all about as confident as I; finally in, and the exam was indeed grotty, not at all to my liking. Had planned to meet Mike after the exam, but after 2 hours I could stand no more, so handed in what I had finished, then off back home to see Sue, giving in a lift on the way to a Luxemburgian bird called Christiana and a nondescript Norwegian - Christiana knew both Chris Jones and Dave Snell, and says the latter's French is abominable. Amusing, in view of Dave's opinions.

Then to Sue, who was alone in the house, and decided to leave and come over to my place, but en route changed our minds and went to Okehampton and did some weekend shopping; then to the Oxenham arms, where I felt some unusual effects after only a pint of Guinness. Home along some country roads amusing in that state of mind, and at home the usual; later had a go at changing a drive shaft dust cover, which was comparatively successful, and decided to leave the rest until tomorrow. Then had a bite to eat, and messed around at great length without achieving much. I am getting thoroughly fed up with having to get up at 0300 and taking Sue home; why can't she stay here?

Sunday, 31 May 1970	Bow, etc.
		Top of page
		previous day

Up and fairly soon around to see Sue, who was at home with Alison preparing Sunday lunch, and apparently not allowed out until parents returned from church. Upstairs for a while, contemplating the unusual mess at that stage extant in Sue's room, and sat there while she tidied it up. Then Chris Calcutt arrived, having apparently been invited thither by parents for lunch; when they (almost immediately) returned, they asked me too, but managed to turn that offer down, though they were not too happy about that; back home, I wondering whether it would not have been a better idea to have eaten there after all. At home, had a bit of thought and decided to cook up as Hamburgers what Chris had bought in the way of minced meat about a week ago; sent Sue off to the garage to get some 2/- pieces [for the electricity meter], and when, after 20 minutes, she had not returned, set off in panic fearing the worst; eventually found her at the White Hart being spoken at by some old woman. Got her back and had lunch, and then upstairs - this is getting to much of habit, but what a nice one! Still, I suppose when we have had enough we will slow down somewhat - though I can't see that happening in the near future. Then got up and had a bath, discovereing in the process that the left front brake needs relining; nuisance. Out, and then discovered that the handbrake had bent further and consequently would not hold the car at all, which, along with hair more than usually prone to fall in front of my face, occasioned much swearing. Then off for a drive, and for a walk on a hillside near Hatherleigh, Sue in one of her more baroque moment; then back home for a while and had something to eat, and then, as Mrs. Fortescue had seemed a little annoyed at letting us go, went back thither and watched the end of “The Sinking of the Bismarck”,

My recollection is that that is the correct title, but Google disagrees: all I could find was “Sink the Bismarck!”.

after which Mrs. Fortescue turned off the TV and engaged us in conversation, to little avail; home fairly early.